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We are
the men and women of Local 473 of the International Association of Firefighters.
Our membership is
106 union members of 113 employees staffing 3
fully staffed
and 2 "jump" fire stations with 100% union-member
firefighters
and lieutenants. We serve the 87,000+ citizens of the city of
Waukegan on the shores of Lake Michigan 24 hours a day through a 3 x 24
hour shift schedule. Members of our local proudly protect our city manning
4 engines, 1 ladder truck, 5 ALS ambulances,
1 heavy
rescue squad,1
T-12 Airport Crash Vehicle, 1 inflatable fast-attack dive rescue boat, and
6 other support vehicles. We average 8500-9000 calls per year.
Special
Teams & Training
All of our members are required by the city to be certified Firefighter
IIIs and licensed paramedics by the conclusion of their third year of
service to reach Journeyman Firefighter status.
Our officers
exam is negotiated and governed by the contract, striving to be balanced
and fair. In addition to fire suppression
and ALS emergency care, a majority of our members are Fire Apparatus Engineers
and Emergency Rescue Technicians. We also man an Aircraft Firefighting
truck near Waukegan Regional Airport and participate in Railway Accident
Preparedness, both of which require special training. Beyond this, our
members comprise several specialty and highly trained teams that serve
not only our own community but also respond to Lake County emergencies.
These include: Hazardous Materials, Trench/Confined Space Rescue, Dive
Rescue, High-Angle Rescue, and Explosive Ordinance Devices.
Philanthropy
We support several local philanthropy efforts including the Waukegan High
School Wrestling Team, Waukegan High School Booster Club, a Girl's Age-Group
Softball Team, North Shore Boxing Club, and two annual Waukegan High School
Athletic Scholarships. We sponsor a pony league baseball team and Waukegan
Warriors Travel Baseball. We host an annual Bowling Tournament and Golf
Outing in the spring which support Burn Camp and MDA respectively. Our
members also mentor teenagers through the department's Fire Explorer program.
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